Hy-Vee will open a supermarket and convenience store on MacArthur Boulevard in Springfield on May 13.

The corporate announcement on Facebook Monday came more than 2 1/2 years after the project was announced and 11 years after Kmart left the spot at 2115 S. MacArthur Blvd. that is now home to Hy-Vee.

“We've been trying for years to get to this point,” said Jen Dillman, president of the MacArthur Boulevard Association.

The neighborhood and retail group was among organizations that worked to bring the Iowa supermarket chain to MacArthur Boulevard, including through support of $3.5 million from a newly created tax increment financing district to help pay redevelopment costs.

Hy-Vee demolished all but the steel framework of the former Kmart, which closed in 2003, and the adjoining Spillway Lanes bowling alley. The former Town & Country Shell at MacArthur and Cherry Road and a former TitleMax building also were demolished to allow for parking and landscaping.

Approximately 670 employees have been hired for the Springfield store, including 120 full time. The supermarket will be open 24 hours.

Dillman said the company has shown it intends to be a part of the community by funding neighborhood gardens at the MacArthur Park apartments, Butler Elementary School and Frankin Middle School.

About 50 Hy-Vee employees, including store director Kyle Thornsbrough, took part in the annual MacArthur Boulevard Cleanup Day on Saturday.

Dillman said the association also is planning a number of joint promotions and community events with Hy-Vee.

Springfield aldermen approved the TIF district in early 2012 as an incentive to Hy-Vee. City economic development director Mike Farmer said Monday there's a little more than $2,900 in the TIF, but the amount should grow quickly in coming years.

“The whole idea is to grow it to encourage more development,” he said.

Farmer said the first significant boost from Hy-Vee would come from 2014 property taxes payable in 2015, but that other commercial and retail improvements on the boulevard would contribute as well. TIF districts rely on increased tax revenue from improvements as incentives for other developers.

The MacArthur TIF takes in both sides of the boulevard between South Grand and Wabash avenues.

Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin said the TIF has attracted interest from other would-be developers, including in the old Esquire theater building at MacArthur and South Grand. That building has been vacant since 2003.

“There's some interest out there,” said McMenamin, “but the real flow (into the TIF) will begin in 2015.”